Word game and method of play

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a word game apparatus and a method of playing said game. The word game apparatus comprising one or more sets of word units having a front, wherein said front has indicia identified thereon comprising an original word, one or more amended words and one or more location identification positions; a plurality of playing pieces having a front having indicia identified thereon representing a letter of an alphabet or a symbol, wherein during play of the game said playing pieces are arranged to form words and a particular formed word is assigned to a particular word unit and said particular word unit is assigned to a particular player, and a playing surface providing a means for displaying said word units such that only an original word is visible. The word game is played according to a playing procedure which provides for the stealing a word unit assigned to an opponent.

RESERVATION OF COPYRIGHT

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document containsmaterial to which a claim of copyright protection is made. The owner hasno objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent andTrademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention pertains to the field of entertainment andmore particularly to games involving the formation of words andapparatus for playing the same.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Numerous games are readily available which utilize the skill andimagination of players. More recently, word games have become popularutilizing the word skills of players. Such games are challenging,enjoyable, and simultaneously, have an educational value since theyrequire the imagination of the player, utilizing and expanding theirword knowledge.

[0004] At the present time, one of the more common word building gamesis SCRABBLE®. In this game, tiles bearing letters are placed on a boardto form a crossword type of arrangement.

[0005] The scoring of this game depends partially on arbitrary valuesgiven to the letters themselves and partially upon the location at whichsaid tiles are placed on the board. A restriction in SCRABBLE® is that aplayer is required, when forming a new crossword, to use one letter of aword upon the board or an entire word on the board as a root for the newword. Furthermore, the letters, once formed into a word and placed onthe board, are static, and cannot be moved.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,410 describes a word forming game, in which aplayer constructs words using letter tiles. Letter tiles containedeither in previously formed words or exposed tiles within the tile poolcan be used to create new words. During play it is possible to steal aword previously formed by an opponent. In order to steal a previouslyformed word, a player must rearrange the letter tiles of the word to bestolen, with the addition of at least one letter tile, such that a newword is created. Upon formation of a new word, a player places theletter tiles forming said word in front of his or her position. Thescoring of this game is based upon the number of letter tiles that havebeen formed into words, which a player has in front of him or herself,in addition to bonus points, if any, signified on said letter tiles.

[0007] The above mentioned word games are designed for players with anestablished vocabulary. Children, however, generally have a limitedvocabulary and thus the formation of words, especially the formation ofwords requiring the inclusion of previously constructed words, becomesmore difficult. In order for children to enjoy playing a word game asmentioned above, the method by which the game is played should bemodified for simplicity. For example, the aforementioned word gameSCRABBLE® has been modified to create a game suitable for children, inwhich a player is required to match randomly selected letter tiles withthe corresponding letters within words, which are printed on one side ofthe game board in a crossword formation.

[0008] In order to maintain the interest of a child a game must be easyto play and entertaining. The present invention provides a method andapparatus for playing a word forming game, which is designed for theenjoyment and education of children by incorporating theiridentification skills, together with their imagination enabling theformation of words.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,153 discloses an educational device which canbe used for developing vocabulary and spelling skills which incorporatesthe spelling of words printed on a board using letter tiles. The deviceincludes a generally rectangular board member that is divided byprinted, colored lines into several rectangular sections. Eachrectangular section includes a pictorial representation of an object,along with the spelled word corresponding with the name of that object,and a series of side-by-side tile positioning indicia next to thespelled word associated with the illustrated object. A plurality ofletter tiles of substantially uniform shape are provided, each lettertile bearing the same color as that of the dividing lines on the boardmember with which it is to be used, and also bearing a letter of thealphabet on at least one surface. This device while enabling educationalpurposes does not incorporate the concept of a game in order to possiblymaintain the interest of a child upon repeated use of the device.

[0010] This background information is provided for the purpose of makingknown information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevanceto the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, norshould be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutesprior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a word game andmethod of play. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,there is provided a word game apparatus comprising: one or more sets ofword units having a front, wherein said front has indicia identifiedthereon, said indicia comprising an original word, one or more amendedwords and one or more location identification means; a plurality ofplaying pieces having a front, said front having indicia identifiedthereon, wherein said indicia is selected from the group comprising aletter of an alphabet or a symbol and wherein during play of the gamesaid playing pieces are arranged to form words and a particular formedword is assigned to a particular word unit and said particular word unitis assigned to a particular player; and a playing surface providing ameans for displaying said word units such that only an original word isvisible. The word game is played according to a playing procedure,wherein said playing procedure provides a means for stealing a word unitassigned to an opponent.

[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there isprovided a method of playing a word game comprising the steps of:providing a game apparatus to a group of two of more players, said gameapparatus comprising a plurality of word units, a plurality of playingpieces and a playing surface; selecting, randomly, a predeterminednumber of word units and positioning said word units in relation to theplaying surface such that only an original word associated with eachword unit is visible to the group of two or more players; selecting,randomly, a plurality of playing pieces each having a letter of analphabet or a symbol indicia thereon, wherein said selected playingpieces are placed in a position such that the group is able to identifythe indicia, said selected playing pieces forming an exposed collection;taking possession of a word unit, by a player, upon matching each letterof the original word associated with said word unit with identicalletters associated with playing pieces in the exposed collection,wherein said matched playing pieces are subsequently associated withsaid word unit; attempting to steal a word unit in possession of anopponent through the rearrangement of a group of playing piecescomprising the playing pieces associated with the word unit and at leastone additional playing piece from the exposed collection, wherein saidrearrangement of the group of playing pieces results in the formation ofa word and wherein said word can be selected from a group of amendedwords associated with the word unit; determining a winner based on apredetermined criteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic of various components of one embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic of the components of a word unit accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a schematic of a game board according to one embodimentof the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4A is a schematic of a word unit during play of a gameaccording to one embodiment of the present and having associated with ita number of playing pieces.

[0017]FIG. 4B is a schematic of a first use of a joker letter accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4C is a schematic of a second use of a joker letter accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4D is a schematic of a third use of a joker letter accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a schematic of the initial set up of the game accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a schematic of the method of selection of the firstactive player according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a schematic of the method of commencement of playaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a schematic of the procedure of play upon the completionof an original word according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a schematic of the procedure for the stealing of anopponent's word unit according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Definitions

[0026] The term “word unit” is used to describe a means for displaying aplurality of words and location identification means. The plurality ofwords associated with a particular word unit comprises an original wordand plurality of amended words. A word unit can be embodied as a 2dimensional object or a 3 dimensional object, for example a card or acube.

[0027] The term “location identification means” is used to describeindicia which identify positions for the placement of playing piecesduring play of the game.

[0028] The term “original word” is used to describe a word associatedwith a word unit such that the letters of said word must be used for theformation of all new words that are associated with the word unit.

[0029] The term “amended word” is used to describe a word which isformed using the letters of an original word together with at least oneadditional letter.

[0030] The term “playing piece” is used to describe a means ofdisplaying a letter in order that the word game may be played. A playingpiece can be, for example, a tile or may be embodied in the form of athree dimensional object for example a ball, or a cube.

[0031] The term “playing surface” is used to describe any means uponwhich the game may be played and displayed, for example, a board mediumwhich may be formed from paper, cloth, foam or rubber or somecombination thereof. In addition, the playing surface may be associatedwith a large or a small board medium.

[0032] The term “playing procedure” is used to describe a set of rulesaccording to which a game is to be played. The playing procedureestablishes the parameters by which for example, a player wins a game orperforms particular activities during play of the game and may establishparameters for the validity of particular word formations.

[0033] The term “letter” is used to describe any insignia which may beinterpreted as a character in an alphabet or may be considered as a“wild” or “joker” insignia. This insignia of a character may be forexample a printed letter or a Braille representation of a letter.

[0034] The phrase “exposed collection” is used to describe the pool ofplaying pieces that are visible to all players and can be used to formnew words.

[0035] The term “player” is used to describe an individual or a group ofindividuals that are acting as one, who are participating in the game.

[0036] The phrase “active player” is used to describe the player that iscurrently allowed to form words.

[0037] Unless defined otherwise defined, all technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

[0038] The present invention provides an apparatus and method forplaying a word game incorporating word formation. The present inventioncomprises a plurality of word units, a plurality of playing pieces and aplaying surface, wherein each playing piece is associated with a letteror joker insignia A word unit comprises an original word, a plurality ofamended words and a plurality of location identification means. Duringplay of the game a player attempts to form a new word using exposedplaying pieces, wherein any formed word is associated with a particularword unit. Upon the creation of a new word a player is assignedownership of the particular word unit with which the new word isassociated. The game further incorporates a means for stealing a wordunit which in possession of an opponent. During play of the game, aplayer attempts to collect and maintain possession of a plurality ofword units.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the object of thegame is to be the first to have possession of a predetermined number ofword units, for example 5, 6 or 7. In order to obtain possession of aword unit, a player must spell the original word associated with saidword unit using playing pieces within the exposed collection or steal aword unit in possession of an opponent. Preferably, a word unit isstolen from an opponent, with this being accomplished by rearranging theplaying pieces associated with the word unit together with at least oneadditional playing piece, in order to form a new word. At any point inthe game, the active player may use any combination of playing pieceswithin the exposed collection or a set of playing pieces associated witha word unit to form a new word. Each word formed during play of the gameis associated with a particular word unit.

[0040] A board game apparatus which is suitable for playing a word gameas described herein may acquire various forms. In one embodiment, theboard game apparatus may resemble a standard sized board game. Inaddition, a board game apparatus may be embodied as a travel size game,wherein said apparatus would be of a size providing ease of transport

[0041] In one embodiment, the present invention can be used as aneducational tool, possibly enabling players to expand and develop theirvocabulary and improve their spelling. In addition, the presentinvention may be used as a tool for aiding students developing languageskills, for example second and third language education.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the game apparatuscan be specifically designed to be compatible with a particular languageand the appropriate alphabet of that language.

[0043] For example words identified with respect to each word unit willbe dependent on the desired language. The particular language can beselected from the group comprising: English, French, Spanish,Portuguese, German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Greek. However,according to the present invention, the word game can be played in anylanguage. In a further embodiment of the present invention the pool ofplaying pieces which are used to play the game may have a letter ratiowhich is consistent with the ratio of the use of each particular letterwith respect to the particular language in which the game is played. Forexample, in the English language the letter “E” is the most commonlyused letter and therefore may be the most common letter in the pool ofplaying units.

[0044] Board Game Apparatus

[0045] With reference to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a plurality of word units 10, which have associated with themon a collection of words. Furthermore, there is a plurality of playingpieces 20, for example tiles, each of which bears a letter of analphabet or a joker insignia. Playing pieces of a square shape are shownbut they may equally well be round, triangular, hexagonal or some otherappropriate 2D or 3D shape. The total number of these playing pieces 10is not critical, however the ratio of the various insignias can bedetermined based on the language in which the game is being played orother selected criteria. In one embodiment there is a single jokerplaying piece contained in the collection of playing pieces. The playingpieces may be supplied, for example, in a container 30, such as a baghaving a drawstring, providing a method of random selection of saidplaying pieces. A playing surface 40 provides a means for exposingrandomly selected word units such that only the original word associatedwith the word unit is visible. Finally, there exists in the view of allplayers an exposed collection of playing pieces, which are placed forexample, on the playing surface. This exposed collection of playingpieces and the playing pieces of preformed words, combined, are theactive playing pieces for the game at any given instance.

[0046] Word Units

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention there is supplied aplurality of word units 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each word unit 10comprises a plurality of location identification means 50, an originalword 60 and a collection of amended words 70. The locationidentification means 50 may, for example, be situated at the top of aword unit 10 and these identification means can indicate positions atwhich playing pieces may be placed during play of the game. On selectedlocation identification means 50, letters are represented which form aword and this word is the original word 60 associated with the word unit10 in question. The letters of an original word 60 of a particular wordunit 10 form the basis for the creation of amended words 70 associatedwith said word unit 10. The plurality of additional words imprinted oneach word unit identify amended words 70 that may be formed using theletters of the original word 60 together with at least one additionalletter.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention and with reference toFIG. 2, the amended words can be presented such that the letters of theoriginal word are indicated in a different manner that the additionalletters to form the new words. For example the letters “A”, “I” and “R”are indicated by an outline only and the remainder of the letters are asa solid colour. This identification of the letters of the original wordcan improve the ease with which a player can determine which letters arerequired in order to steal a particular word unit.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, the amended words arearranged into columns, with each word in a particular column beingformed by rearranging a collection of letters. Said collection includesthe letters of the word directly above the word in question and at leastone additional letter. The plurality of amended words imprinted on eachword unit provides suggestions for the stealing of the aforementionedword unit from an opponent.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention word units can vary indifficulty. For example, a greater number of amended words associatedwith a particular word unit may increase the possibility of the stealingof said word unit. In this manner the greater the number of amendedwords associated with a word unit may decrease the difficulty of thegame. A player may prefer to construct a word to be associated with aparticular word unit that is not listed as an amended word on said wordunit. This may increase the difficulty for a future player attempting tosteal the above word unit, since that player cannot depend on theassociated amended words for suggestions for the creation of a new word.

[0051] In one embodiment of the present invention the word units and/orthe playing pieces may be designed such that the word units and playingpieces can be temporarily interconnected. For example magneticattraction or a mechanical connection between these components mayprovide a means for temporary interconnection of playing pieces and wordunits. In one embodiment, the interconnection between a playing pieceand a word unit is only realised if a playing piece is placed on alocation identification means associated with the word unit. Thisinterconnection between game elements can provide a means formaintaining connectivity between said game components during theirmovement to an alternate position during play of the game. For examplethe transfer of possession of a word unit after the stealing of saidword unit by a player. A temporary mechanical connection may be enabledby, for example, using a hook and eye connection or by providingrecesses in a word unit in which playing pieces may be placed. A workerskilled in the art would understand how to construct the playing piecesand word units to produce these forms of temporary interconnection.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention the word units haveimages imprinted thereon. These images may provide a player with apictorial representation of the original word or an amended wordassociated with a particular word unit, for example.

[0053] Playing Surface

[0054] In one embodiment of the present invention there is a playingsurface formed by the connection of a top surface and a bottom portion,which are connected to provide a space at which word units may bepositioned such that only the original words imprinted on said wordunits are visible. Hexagonal surfaces are shown, although these surfacesmay equally well be triangular, rectangular, octagonal or any othershape desired.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the top surface 80 has a smaller surface area than the bottomportion 90. The top surface and bottom portion are connected in a mannersuch that a pocket may formed on each edge of the playing surface. Aword unit can be inserted into each of these pockets resulting in theconcealment of the amended words associated with a word unit.

[0056] In another embodiment of the present invention the top surfacehas a larger surface area than the bottom portion. When a playingsurface of this configuration is placed on a table or the like, a spaceis realised under the top playing surface such that a word unit can beslipped into said space, thus concealing the amended words.

[0057] In one embodiment of the present invention the playing surface isconstructed such that it is able to rotate on the surface upon which itis placed. This movement provides a means for each player to read theexposed word units and playing pieces in their correct orientation. Thisrotation of the playing surface may be provided by a bearing system orany other means as would be known to a worker skilled in the art.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, a typical set of gamerules is as follows. The following description is defined in terms ofthe English language and a worker skilled in the art would readilyunderstand how to adapt the following discussion for use with analternate language.

[0059] Standard Method of Play

[0060] Set-up

[0061] In one embodiment of the present invention, the desireddifficulty of a game is chosen and an appropriate deck of word units isselected. Word units are randomly drawn from the selected deck andpositioned on the playing surface such that only the original word isexposed and that all possible locations of word units are filled. Allplaying pieces are placed in a random selection means and apredetermined number of these playing pieces is selected and placed onthe playing surface exposing the insignia thereon. These playing piecesform the initial exposed collection. Each player selects one playingpiece from the remaining collection of unexposed playing pieces and theplayer selecting the letter “A” or the letter closest to the letter “A”,in the alphabet, begins the game. The order of play proceeds in forexample, a clockwise manner commencing with player one, as selectedpreviously. Each of the playing pieces selected by the players, asspecified above, is placed in the exposed collection and thus providesthe playing pieces to commence the game. Each player proceeds to selectan additional playing piece from the container and conceals its valuefrom the rest of the players.

[0062] Playing the Game

[0063] Player one places their concealed playing piece in the exposedcollection and attempts to identify a single playing piece whichcorresponds to a letter within one of the original words imprinted on anexposed word unit If an appropriate playing piece is located, player oneremoves said playing piece from the exposed collection and places saidplaying piece on top of the matching letter imprinted on the word unit.Player one proceeds to select a playing piece from the remainingunexposed collection of playing pieces and conceals its value from therest of the players.

[0064] Player two attempts to identify a single playing piece, whichcorresponds to a letter contained within one of the original words. Playcontinues as described above, until matching playing pieces cover anentire original word imprinted on a word unit. When the active player isable to complete an original word by matching the final letter of saidword, the word unit and the corresponding playing pieces are placed infront of the active player to indicate the ownership of the word unit.The active player's turn continues until said player is unable tocomplete an original word or steal an opponent's word unit. Uponcompletion of a turn the active player selects a playing piece from theremaining unexposed collection of playing pieces and conceals its valuefrom the rest of the players.

[0065] One aspect of the game allows for the stealing of a word unit inthe possession of an opponent. If the active player can add one or moreplaying pieces to a previously formed word and thereby form a new word,the active player may steal the corresponding word unit from anopponent. This increases the active player's word unit count anddecreases an opponent's word unit count. Imprinted on each of the wordunits is a collection of amended words that may be formed to enable thestealing of an opponent's word unit. In one embodiment, these amendedwords are suggestions for stealing a word unit, however, a player mayform a different word provided all of the playing pieces associated withthe word unit and at least on additional playing piece are used to formthis new word.

[0066] Furthermore there is provided at least one joker letter, whichmay be assigned the value of any letter in the alphabet being used,however the value of this playing piece can change over the course ofthe game. For example, if a joker letter is in play, (for example,contained in one of the pre-formed words), then the active player maysteal the joker playing piece by replacing it with a playing piece whichresults in this pre-formed word still being a valid word. For example,replacing the joker letter contained in the word “*EAN”, wherein the “*”represents a joker insignia, with the letter “B” or “L” will result inthe formation of a valid word. The joker playing piece is then added tothe exposed collection and the active player may assign the jokerplaying piece any value and use said playing piece to construct a newword.

[0067] In one embodiment of the present invention and with reference toFIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, there are several methods of use of a jokerplaying piece during the game. FIG. 4A indicates the word unit with theassociated playing pieces, which is in the possession of a player. Withreference to FIG. 4B, a player can steal a word unit having a wordcontaining the joker playing piece from an opponent by adding at leastone playing piece and rearranging these playing pieces to form a newword (e.g. the playing pieces in the preformed word and the additionalplaying piece). The value of the joker playing piece can be changed tocreate this new word. With reference to FIG. 4C, one can replace thejoker playing piece in a pre-formed word with a letter playing piecefrom the exposed collection enabling the formation of a valid word aspreviously described. The joker playing piece in conjunction withplaying pieces from the exposed collection and/or pre-formed words canbe used to form a new word. With reference to FIG. 4D, the active playercan replace the joker playing piece with any playing piece from theexposed collection and rearrange the playing pieces of the pre-formedword including the new playing piece, but excluding the joker playingpiece, to create a new word. The joker playing piece, in conjunctionwith playing pieces from the exposed collection and/or pre-formed wordscan be used to form a new word.

[0068] In one embodiment of the present invention play can continue in aparticular direction around the playing surface, for example clockwiseor anticlockwise or for example the order of play may be randomlyassigned at the beginning of the game.

[0069] In one embodiment of the present invention, play of the gameproceeds as described above until no further words can be arranged usingthe exposed collection and/or the pre-formed words or the pool ofplaying pieces is exhausted or a predetermined number of word units arein the possession of a particular player. Subsequently the player havingpossession of the largest number of word units is declared the winner.

[0070] In a further embodiment, a letter which is associated with aparticular playing piece may be assigned a particular value. In thisscenario, upon the completion of the game in a manner as previouslydescribed, the players may subsequently determine a point total, forexample, by adding up the value of the plurality of letters associatedwith the word units to which they claim ownership. The winner can bedetermined as the player having the highest point total, for example.

[0071] In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to maintainfluidity of the game, the possibility of time limits for the formationof words is possible. For example, a limit of one minute, two minutes orthree minutes per word formation attempt may be suitable. The gamebecomes more difficult if the time limit is reduced and conversely thegame is easier if the time limit is increased. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, there are no pre-assigned time limits.

[0072] In a further embodiment, restrictions may also be placed onallowable words, for example, proper nouns, abbreviations and acronymsmay not be accepted. It may be useful, however, for a dictionary to beconsulted in order to verify the legitimacy of a particular word, if itis so required.

[0073] As it would be appreciated by a worker skilled in the art, thereis a plurality of strategies which may be used during the course of playof this game. For example, the formation of longer words increases thedifficulty for an opponent to steal the associated word unit and thusmay be considered a defensive strategy. In addition, constantlyattempting to steal the word units of an opponent, thus decreasing theirword unit count, may be considered an offensive strategy.

EXAMPLE

[0074] In one embodiment of the present invention an example of thesequence of playing the game is illustrated in FIGS. 5-9.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 5, the initial setup of the game requires theplacement of a playing surface in a position allowing full view of saidplaying surface by all players. Also placed in the playing area is acollection of word units and a container, which contains a plurality ofplaying pieces with letters imprinted thereon. The difficulty of thegame is determined and the appropriate deck of word units is selected. Atotal of six randomly selected word units are placed under the playingsurface such that only the original word imprinted on a word unit isvisible. Five random playing pieces are selected from a container orbag, containing the plurality of playing pieces and said five playingpieces are placed on the playing surface exposing the letters thereon.

[0076] With reference to FIG. 6, each player draws a playing piece fromthe remaining unexposed collection of playing pieces in the containerand places said playing piece on the playing surface exposing the letterthereon. The player selecting an “A” or the letter closest to an “A” inthe alphabet commences plays. In FIG. 6, for example, players 1, 2, 3and 4, selected a “C”, “H”, “R” and a “L”, respectively. In this exampleplayer 1 would commence the game with play proceeding in for example aclockwise direction. These selected playing pieces together with thefive playing pieces previously selected, form the exposed collection,which will be located on the playing surface and said playing piecesprovide the basis for the commencement of the game.

[0077] With reference to FIG. 7, each player further selects one playingpiece from the collection of remaining unexposed playing pieces andconceals said playing piece from view of the other players. Player 1exposes his or her playing piece and includes it in the exposedcollection and attempts to match a playing piece within the exposedcollection with a letter contained within one of the exposed originalwords. For example in FIG. 7, player 1 places the playing piece havingthe letter “G” imprinted thereon in the exposed collection. Player 1proceeds to select a playing piece with the letter “E” imprintedthereon, placing said playing piece on top of the “E” contained withinthe word “LET”. Upon completion of this task, player 1 selects a furtherplaying piece from the unexposed collection of playing pieces andconceals said playing piece from view of all other players. Player 2follows the procedure as stated above. This procedure continues in forexample a clockwise direction until an active player is able to cover anentire original word with the appropriate playing pieces.

[0078] For example, with reference to FIG. 8, player 4 has completed theoriginal word “EAR”.

[0079] This player then removes the word unit from the playing surface,placing said word unit, together with the corresponding playing pieces,in front of them, thus indicating the ownership of said word unit. Theword unit removed from the playing surface is subsequently replaced byanother randomly selected word unit from the appropriate deck of wordunits. Upon replacement of the extracted word unit, player 4 may selecta further playing piece from the remaining unexposed collection ofplaying pieces, placing said playing piece in the exposed collection.This player then proceeds to attempt to match an additional playingpiece with a letter contained within an original word. This procedurewill continue until player 4 is unable to complete an original word orsteal an opponent's word unit, at which point player 4 will select aplaying piece from the remaining unexposed collection of playing piecesand conceal its value.

[0080]FIG. 9 illustrates the procedure by which a player may steal anopponent's word unit. In order for the active player to steal a wordunit from an opponent, the active player must add at least one playingpiece to the playing pieces associated with said word unit and rearrangeall of these playing pieces to form a new word. For example, player 2adds the letter “F” to the word “EAR” associated with the word unit inthe possession of player 4, thus forming the word “FEAR”. Player 2proceeds to take the word unit together with the associated playingpieces, from player 4, proceeding to place them in front of theirposition.

[0081] The game will proceed in this fashion as stated above until allplayers are unable to complete an original word or steal an opponent'sword unit. Alternately, play may continue until a particular player haspossession of a predetermined number of word units. The player with themost word units in their possession is declared the winner.

[0082] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A word game apparatus comprising: a) one or more sets ofword units having a front, wherein said front has indicia identifiedthereon, said indicia comprising an original word, one or more amendedwords and one or more location identification means; b) a plurality ofplaying pieces having a front, said front having indicia identifiedthereon, wherein said indicia is selected from the group comprising aletter of an alphabet or a symbol and wherein during play of the gamesaid playing pieces are arranged to form words and a particular formedword is assigned to a particular word unit and said particular word unitis assigned to a particular player; and c) a playing surface providing ameans for displaying said word units such that only an original word isvisible; wherein said word game is played according to a playingprocedure, wherein said playing procedure provides a means for stealinga word unit assigned to an opponent.
 2. The word game apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein all amended words associated with aparticular word unit comprise the letters of the original wordassociated with said particular word unit and at least one additionalletter.
 3. The word game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidsymbol represents any letter within the alphabet, wherein said symbol isassigned a letter during play of the game and said symbol can bereassigned a different letter at any point during play of the game. 4.The word game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means forstealing a word unit is provided by rearranging a group of playingpieces comprising playing pieces associated with the word unit and atleast one additional playing piece, wherein said rearranging of thegroup of playing pieces results in a new word being formed and said newword is associated with the word unit.
 5. The word game apparatusaccording to claims 1 or 2, wherein said location identification meansindicate positions at which playing pieces can be positioned during playof the game.
 6. The word game apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid alphabet is consistent with a language selected from the groupcomprising: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Arabic, Greek,Chinese and Japanese.
 7. A method of playing a word game comprising thesteps of: a) providing a game apparatus to a group of two of moreplayers, said game apparatus comprising a plurality of word units, aplurality of playing pieces and a playing surface; b) selecting,randomly, a predetermined number of word units and positioning said wordunits in relation to the playing surface such that only an original wordassociated with each word unit is visible to the group of two or moreplayers; c) selecting, randomly, a plurality of playing pieces eachhaving a letter of an alphabet or a symbol indicia thereon, wherein saidselected playing pieces are placed in a position such that the group isable to identify the indicia, said selected playing pieces forming anexposed collection; d) taking possession of a word unit, by a player,upon matching each letter of the original word associated with said wordunit with identical letters associated with playing pieces in theexposed collection, wherein said matched playing pieces are subsequentlyassociated with said word unit; e) attempting to steal a word unit inpossession of an opponent through the rearrangement of a group ofplaying pieces comprising the playing pieces associated with the wordunit and at least one additional playing piece from the exposedcollection, wherein said rearrangement of the group of playing piecesresults in the formation of a word and wherein said word can be selectedfrom a group of amended words associated with the word unit; f)determining a winner based on a predetermined criteria.
 8. The method ofplaying a word game according to claim 7, wherein each player becomes anactive player in a predetermined manner, wherein the active player cantake possession of a word unit or attempt to steal a word unit.
 9. Themethod of playing word game according to claim 7, wherein the symbolassociated with one or more playing pieces can be assigned a lettervalue during play of the game and said symbol can be reassigned adifferent letter value at any point during play of the game.
 10. Themethod of playing word game according to claim 7, wherein the group ofamended words associated with a word unit are comprise letters of theoriginal word and at least one additional letter.